Playoffs: Varsity 14, El Dorado 8

Trabuco Hills Girls Lacrosse Varsity opened the 2017 playoffs with a 14-8 win over El Dorado at Trabuco Stadium on Tuesday night.

The No. 3 seed Mustangs — playing in their 11th playoffs in 11 years as a varsity program — came out strong, quickly opening a 5-2 lead. But the 14th seeded Hawks, who had won 14 straight coming into the game, clawed back and trailed by only 8-6 at half.

After the break, El Dorado quickly narrowed the gap to one at 8-7. But the Mustangs then shut down the Hawks attack, thanks in good part to goaltending by Ashley Bell, to score six of the games last seven goals.

The win was Trabuco’s eighth straight on the season and marked the fifth consecutive year the Mustangs have won a first-round US Lacrosse Southern Section playoff game. Only two other programs — #1 seeded Mater Dei and #2 Foothill — have accomplished that same feat in the last five seasons!

Bell had 16 saves on the night, nine off free position shots. The Mustang offense was powered by six goals a piece by Hennessy Evans and Juliet Mooney and two from Ieneke Jimenez. Sherry Hsu, Jenna Chu and Talia Shutler picked up two ground balls each.

Next up for the 14-3 Mustangs? Hosting a quarterfinal date with #6 Newport Harbor, who beat #11 Los Alamitos, 12-11.